Worth the Wait

July 1, X791, Grand Magic Games

Gray had just been defeated. He shrugged off Lucy, Natsu, and Erza. He did not want anyone to tell him he did his best, or that they can still win this.

He failed. That was the blunt truth.

His shirt came off, dropped to the side as he slunk away like a wounded dog, still hearing the laughs from the crowd.

"Raven Tail... Creation Mage..." He punched the arena wall, leaving a huge indent and making his knuckles bleed. His teeth gritted in fury. "I swear, I'll get them back for this."

He heard the announcer bellow out. "The first match of day one! Fairy Tail A's Lucy Heartfilia versus Raven Tail's Flare Corona."

"Good luck, Lucy," he sighed. "I'll leave it to you. Kick some Raven Tail ass."

Only when the dark recesses of the arena shadowed his face did he finally let the tears fall. The first one, he allowed. Maybe it was a tear of pain. Yes, that had to be it. After all, he was a grown man, eighteen years old, and a Fairy Tail mage. He didn't cry! So when the other eye dripped a tear, he wiped it quickly. He couldn't cry! Lucy was right, this was just the first round. They could make a comeback. Another rebellious tear escaped, and then tears from both eyes fell.

"Goddammit, stop crying!" he yelled at himself, furiously drying his face, yet the tears would not stop.

To his surprise, two arms wrapped around him. Gray jolted, ashamed someone had caught him in such a disgraceful moment, and ready to attack. Then he smelled a familiar cologne and the softness of a finely tailored suit. Orange hair brushed against his cheek as the person squeezed him even tighter. Despite his emotional pain, Gray smiled.

"Gray," Loke's tender voice whispered into his ear.

"Idiot," he muttered, choking on the tears. "Lucy's about to fight. What if she needs you?"

"I already let her know to call on Taurus and Scorpio," he said right against Gray's ear. "Those two have a plan. You need me more right now."

Gray wanted to protest, but he no longer had the will. He turned around, grabbed Loke into his arms, and finally allowed himself to cry. Deep down inside, it felt like he had disappointed seven years of hope his guild had placed in him.

"Last place... fucking last place!" he cried, shaking as the anger and disappointment overwhelmed him.

Loke hushed him and smoothed his hair. He embraced Gray tightly, as if he could protect him and shield him from every hardship human life doled out.

"Gray-sama?"

They both jolted at Juvia's voice echoing down the arena corridor. Loke briefly saw a look of panic on the ice mage's pale face, ashamed to be caught sobbing by a fellow guild mate. The Lion grabbed Gray's shoulders and yanked him away, then quickly turned into a shower room.

"She can't follow us here," Loke said.

Gray pouted. "Well, she could."

"Nope, they're protected with runes to keep out members of the opposite sex, that way perverts don't peek on the girls showering."

Gray chuckled. "What idiot would try that?"

Loke looked down at him and sighed in relief to see Gray had a smile once more. "You're all sweaty," he whispered, tracing Gray's jaw with his finger. "You need a shower."

They pulled each other to the showers, and Gray stripped off the last of his clothes in an instant. Loke turned on the water, and while it warmed up, he pulled Gray into a deep kiss. The nimble fingers of the ice mage worked the many buttons of the Lion's shirt, yanked the tie off, and had the trousers unbelted, unbuttoned, and unzipped in a single, fluid move. He grabbed Loke's tiger-striped boxers and yanked them down to his ankles, kneeling as he went. Then, down in front of him, he caressed Loke's cock until it rose and hardened. His tongue lapped around the head a few times before plunging down onto him.